6 Scooters That Zoom—And Get Great Mpg, Too

Once pigeonholed as two-wheeled transport for the dolce vita set, scooters are enjoying a renaissance thanks to spiraling fuel costs and recession-friendly prices. The new breed can be fuel-efficient commuters and even peg-scraping canyon carvers.

Once pigeonholed as two-wheeled transport for the dolce vita set, scooters are enjoying a renaissance thanks to spiraling fuel costs and recession-friendly prices. The new breed of scooters can be fuel-efficient commuters and even peg-scraping canyon carvers.

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Stylish Hot Rod

Vespa GTS 300 SuperPrice: $6199

Vespa's basic scooter design has barely changed for the better part of seven decades, but beneath the GTS 300 Super's familiar exterior lurks a gutsy 278-cc single that can propel it to 80 mph. Although it sports an elegant Italian silhouette, torquey thrust makes this a surprisingly entertaining urban sled. And while this Vespa's a relative gas guzzler in a segment where triple-digit fuel-economy numbers aren't uncommon, the GTS 300 Super's estimated fuel economy of 65 to 70 mpg still makes it a Prius beater for the price of a used Civic.

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Shoestring Runabout

Yamaha Zuma 50FPrice: $2540

Yamaha has sold more than 79,000 Zuma scooters since 1989, and this lithe ride receives a series of 21st-century upgrades for 2012. The smoky two-stroke engine has been ditched for a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 49-cc four-stroke. Fuel economy is claimed to be an exceptional 132 mpg, though the Yamaha also takes a while to creep to its top speed of around 40 mph. At least there's a handy cup holder for the parched, and an available Garmin nav system that displays local speed limits—not that you'll need to worry about those.

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High Roller

BMW C 650 GTPrice: $10,000 (est.)

BMW's first foray into the U.S. scooter market is a bold one. When the all-new C 600 Sport and C 650 GT reach American shores this fall, they'll introduce a Teutonic distraction in a realm typically dominated by Japanese brands. Although both models are powered by a 647-cc twin-cylinder mill that produces a potent 60 hp bundled with standard ABS, the GT's bigger and lower saddle is more accommodating for all-day rides. With its floorboards, adjustable passenger backrest, and electrically adjustable windscreen, the GT is a viable alternative to smaller-engined touring motorcycles.

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Smooth Operator

Honda PCXPrice: $3399

If 50 ccs are too wimpy and 150 ccs too much, Honda's 125-cc PCX is the solution. Big, 14-inch wheels reduce the twitchy handling inherent in scooters, and linked rear-to-front brakes make quick stops an easy task. Taller riders may find the PCX's proportions a bit tight, but there's plenty of space for storage—a large underseat area swallows full-face helmets whole. Its gas tank holds only 1.6 gallons, but an estimated fuel-economy rating of 110 mpg should keep the fill-ups infrequent.

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EV with App Appeal

Evolve HeliumPrice: $2900

Brooklyn-based Evolve Motorcycles scored Internet buzz with its battery-powered Tron Light Cycle replica, but that $55,000 ride is miles away from the company's bread-and-butter offerings. The Helium is the most affordable of the EV scooter lineup, and its LiFe PO4 battery yields a 40-mph top speed and 45 miles of range. Crave more distance? A $1500 model upgrade boosts that figure to roughly 110 miles. The Helium's styling might be textbook internal combustion (and a bit on the bland side), but a smartphone app with GPS and a charging-station locator gives this pint-size ride a futuristic twist.

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Designer's Dream

BoxxPrice: $3995

This avant-garde electric scooter might look like a space heater on wheels, but its spare design packs plenty of innovations. Built using a weld-free, monolithic aluminum construction method that brings total weight to a mere 120 pounds, the Boxx saves space by packaging small electric motors in the wheels. Thus, this odd duck is also two-wheel drive and can move along at 30 mph for around 20 miles (or 40 miles in Eco mode). An additional lithium-polymer battery ($599) doubles the range. The Boxx is expected to hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2012.

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